Regional science fair results

The Sunset Country Regional Science Fair took place at Fort Frances High School on Saturday, with about 120 students from Grades 4-12 participating.
“We had a great fair. There’s been a tremendous amount of excellent work done,” said Crossroads School principal Brian Love, who chairs the regional science fair committee.
“It’s a celebration of learning,” he enthused.
Students were divided into Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Divisions, with the first two divided into three categories: applied, life, and physical science.
In the Junior Division, Jessica Haw (Sturgeon Creek School) won first place in the applied science category for her project entitled “Plaster Master.”
Morgan Murdick and Brendan McGreachy, of New Prospect School in Dryden, took second for “Magnetic Generator” while Jamie Buttner (St. Francis School) was third for “Electromagnetism.”
Honourable Mention went to Ben McBride (Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program) for his project “Wash Away or Here to Stay.”
In Junior Life Science, Courtney Hanson (McCrosson-Tovell School) captured first place for her project “Disguise Your Eyes.”
Second place went to Erin McComb of Riverview School in Dryden for “Hamster on the Run” while third went to Saragh Fraser of Riverview School in Rainy River for “Environmental Pollution.”
Ryan Tickner, of Sacred Heart School in Sioux Lookout, earned Honourable Mention for “Which Hand Would You Shake?”
In Junior Physical Science, first place went to Mitchell Haw (Sturgeon Creek) for “Fence Sense” while second went to Vincent Diep of Riverview School in Dryden for “Biodegradable Plastics.”
Halle Bazinet and Rebecca Armit (St. Francis) took third for “The Shocking Truth.” Matthew Watson (St. Francis) won Honourable Mention for “What Melts Ice the Fastest?”
In the Intermediate Division, applied science category, Brad Hatch of Riverview School in Dryden won first for “Ski-Lys” while Travis Wintle, also of Riverview, won second for “Drip Drop—Save a Lot.”
Third went to Matt Mutz of Crossroads School for “Cool Carb,” with Kevin McComb of Riverview in Dryden earning Honourable Mention for “It’s a Breeze.”
In Intermediate Life Science, Erich Warmbier and Hayden Bye of St. Thomas Aquinas in Kenora won first for “The Wood Frog’s Antifreeze.”
Leah Hanchuk of Sacred Heart School in Sioux Lookout took second for her project “Biotic Water” while Vaneesha Mashru (New Prospect School) was third for “Effects of Drinks on Teeth.”
Honourable Mention went to Taylor Latimer (St. Francis) for “Simply Alarming.”
Brianne Doudiet of Ear Falls Public School took first place in Intermediate Physical Science for her project “Flammable Fabrics.”
Second place went to T.J. Marinaro (Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program) for “A Shattering Experience” while third went to Jordan Hansen (McCrosson-Tovell) for “Tough on Wood.”
Honourable Mention went to David McBride (Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program) for his project “Slip and Slide.”
Aaron Matichuk of Atikokan High School captured first place in Senior Earth Science for “Pine Marten Habitat Suitability.”
In addition to the division prizes, four other awards were given to students for outstanding work.
The Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories Award went to Diep in the Junior Division and Hanchuk in the Intermediate Division.
The Pfizer Canada Award of Excellence, as well as the University of Ottawa Scholarship of $1,000, went to Matichuk.
As well, Matichuk, Doudiet, Hatch, and Travis Wintle were chosen to attend the national science fair in Vancouver, B.C. in May.